(Photo : Dell)

In an attempt to crack into the growing tablet market in China, American multinational computer technology company Dell announced its plans to sell cheap only-for-China tablets before the end of this year.

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But it will not be an easy task for Deal to reach out to the Chinese market for its cheap tablets because the market is currently ruled by Apple, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, and several domestic manufacturers that are producing affordable versions of their counterparts.

According to a Forbes report, Dell will be introducing a cheap tablet in China consider that Chinese consumers prefer to buy affordable tablets even it means the tablets are less powerful.

However, Dell Asia-Pacific Sales Executive Director Peter Marrs refused to give details about the planned only-for-China tablet but gave a few hints about the company's plan during an event in Singapore.

Chinese Consumers Prefer Cheap Tablets

Android tablets in China sell as low as $60 and for Dell to successfully enter the highly competitive market, it would need to introduce really affordable units, said the Forbes report. Other tablet manufacturers have been introducing cheap models in China to meet consumers' preference for classy yet affordable tablets.

Research firm Analysys revealed that tablet sales in China slowed down this year due to weak sales of Apple's iPad. According to latest statistics, tablet sales in the second quarter of this year reached 3.58 million units. During the first quarter, sales reached 3.4 million tablet units.

The research firm revealed noted that Android, one of the three major tablet PC platforms, is swiftly going up the competition and could exceed iOS soon. Analysys said manufacturers would have to launch a new, affordable tablet to attract consumers.

Apple Losing Grip

Research firm IDC earlier said that sales of Apple's iPhone in China continue to decline because of the introduction of cheaper Android tablet computers. Apple used to supply 49 per cent of the tablet computers in country last year but this figure dropped to 28 per cent during the second quarter of 2013.

Apple sold 1.48 million iPads during the said period but Samsung Electronics continues its growth momentum, claiming 11 per cent of the tablet market share in China for its Galaxy tablets.